The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said that women should be treated with respect and equality irrespective of the occasion. He said that women have the greatest attitude of performing their duties silently. He was addressing a workshop organised by Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions on the occasion of International Women’s Day here today. The workshop aimed at recognising women and their contribution to the development of society at large. Ms NL Beno Zephine, first 100% visually challenged person to be in Indian Foreign Service, was the Chief Guest on the occasion.Dr Jitendra Singh said that women like Ms NL Beno Zephine are the role model not only for women, but a role model to be followed by all of us. He also said the she needs to be followed by the youth of the country who want to achieve something in their lives. He said that he always had trust in her capabilities and she has succeeded because of her will and aptitude.
Shri Sanjay Kothari, Secretary, DoPT said that determination is a very big thing in life to achieve success. He also expressed happiness that the representation of women in the Indian Administrative Services (IAS) is increasing and in the latest batch of IAS, there is about 30% representation from women. He also said that he has never felt any difference in the capabilities of the men and women during his career and women were equally capable as men in performing their duties. Shri Kothari also called upon the women employees participating in the workshop, to help at least one woman in their life in terms of empowering her and share the same that experience next year on this day. In this way we can make this day more meaningful, he added.
Sharing her experiences of life, the Chief Guest Ms NL Beno Zephine said that women should have the capability to convert every adversity into an opportunity. She also said that women like Mother Teresa and Kalpana Chawla are the inspiration for all of us. She said that she had realised that she may not have vision, but she had vision to be a civil servant and be the first time, a 100% visually challenged person to become IFS officer in India. Speaking on women empowerment, she said that decision-making and other opportunities should be given to women for them to realise their potential.During the workshop, the women employees of the Ministry also shared their experiences and thoughts on Women’s Day. They said that Women’s Day is an occasion to celebrate the economic, social and political empowerment of women in the past, present and future. They agreed that there should be an environment of mutual respect among men and women in the society to prosper and they should perform their respective duties with honesty and cooperation.AS(FA), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Ministry of Home Affairs Smt Sanjeevani Kutty, EO, DoPT Shri Rajeev Kumar, Additional Secretary, DARPG Smt Usha Sharma and other senior officers of the Ministry were also present on the occasion.